Clear Casting Resin is an optically clear polyurethane casting resin used where a hard, UV resistant, non-yellowing product is required. Clear Casting Resin is often used to encapsulate objects. Some of the most common uses of Clear Casting Resin are point-of-purchase displays, rapid prototypes, special effects, sculpture reproductions, giftware, etc.

Characteristics

Clear Casting Resin is a two-part polyurethane casting system. Clear Casting Resin is mixed one-to-one by volume and cures at room temperature. Cured Clear Casting Resin is UV resistant and non-yellowing. To preserve the surface clarity of Clear Casting Resin, we recommend that you use a platinum-cure or condensation-cure silicone mold material such as LifeRite.

Clear Casting Resin provides a combination of performance properties including optical clarity, mechanical strength, hydrolysis resistance, gloss retention, and yellowing resistance. Each user must individually determine the suitability of this product for the process intended; furthermore, the conditions under which parts are made must also be taken into consideration.

Applications

Clear Casting Resin is an optically clear polyurethane casting resin used where a hard, UV resistant, non-yellowing product is required. Clear Casting Resin is often used to encapsulate objects. Some of the most common uses of Clear Casting Resin are point-of-purchase displays, rapid prototypes, special effects, sculpture reproductions, giftware, etc.

Characteristics

Clear Casting Resin is a two-part polyurethane casting system. Clear Casting Resin is mixed one-to-one by volume and cures at room temperature. Cured Clear Casting Resin is UV resistant and non-yellowing. To preserve the surface clarity of Clear Casting Resin, we recommend that you use a platinum-cure or condensation-cure silicone mold material such as LifeRite.

Clear Casting Resin provides a combination of performance properties including optical clarity, mechanical strength, hydrolysis resistance, gloss retention, and yellowing resistance. Each user must individually determine the suitability of this product for the process intended; furthermore, the conditions under which parts are made must also be taken into consideration.

Instructions for Use

Measure Curative and Pre-polymer

Note: Clear Casting Resin provides approximately 15 minutes for you to mix and pour the casting before it begins to gel.

Using two clean, dry, plastic containers of equal size, measure equal amounts of the curative (part A) and the pre-polymer (part B). Do not measure more Clear Casting Resin than you can pour within its 15 minute pot life.

Mix Curative and Pre-polymer

Note: Once you mix the curative and pr-epolymer, you have approximately 15 minutes to pour the casting.

After you prepare the mold and measure the curative and pre-polymer, you are ready to pour the curative and pre-polymer into another clean, dry, plastic container. Combine the two ingredients for approximately 45 seconds, being careful to prevent air bubbles from forming. Use a plastic or metal utensil to mix Clear Casting Resin. You can use a vacuum chamber to help remove any air bubbles that form during mixing.

Pour Casting

You should take your time to carefully pour it into the mold. The best way to pour a casting with Clear Casting Resin is to tilt your mold slightly and pour into one spot of the mold. Pour slowly so that any air bubbles that may have formed during mixing can break over the lip of the container as it pours out. When you have finished pouring your casting, you may tap the sides of the mold or vibrate the mold to help release additional air bubbles.

Demold and Cure Casting

Once you have poured your casting, do not disturb the mold or demold the casting for 24 hours. Although you may work with your cast immediately after demolding, for best results we strongly recommend that you post cure your cast for 6 hours at 160°F (72°C). The post cure improves the heat distortion temperature as well as numerous other properties of the material.

Properties

Curative (Part A) and Pre-polymer (Part B )

The following table explains the properties of the curative and pre-polymer of Clear Casting Resin before they have been mixed.

Property

Curative (Part A)

Pre-polymer (Part B)

Color

Clear

Clear

Mix Ratio by Weight

1

1.04

Mix Ratio by Volume

1

1

Shelf Life

6 Months

6 Months

Specific Gravity @ 75° F (24° C)

1.03

1.07

Viscosity @ 75° F (24° C), CPS

600

100

Mixed Curative (Part A) and Pre-polymer (Part B)

The following is a summary of the properties of Clear Casting Resin after the curative and pre-polymer have been mixed.

Property

Time

Temperature

Mix Time

45 Seconds

75° F (24° C)

Pot Life

15 Minutes

75° F (24° C)

Gel Time

20 Minutes

75° F (24° C)

Demold Time

24 Hours

75° F (24° C)

*Pot life, gel time, and demold time vary depending on mass, mold temperature, and component temperature.

Cured Clear Casting Resin

The following table explains the properties of Clear Casting Resin after it has cured.

Property

Cured Product

Color

Clear

Elongation, ASTM D412-80, %

<10

Heat Distortion Temperature, ASTM D648*

137° F (58° C)

Rebound, Bashore, ASTM D2632-74, %

18

Reversion Temperature

270° F (132° C)

Shore Hardness, ASTM D2240-75

D84±2

Linear Shrinkage, ASTM D2566, in/in

.0015

Specific Gravity, ASTM D792-66

1.05

Tear, Die C, ASTM D624-73, PLI

836

Tear, Split, ASTM D470-71, PLI

81

Ultimate Tensile, D412-80, PSI

6456

*Post curing at 160°F (72°C) for 6 hours increases the heat distortion temperature up to 30%.

Storage and Handling

Keep the Clear Casting Resin containers tightly closed when not in use and store in a cool, dry place. Do not expose the Clear Casting Resin curative or pre-polymer to moisture! If moisture contaminates Clear Casting Resin, it will not cure. If these storage requirements are met, Clear Casting Resin carries a shelf life warranty of six months. Be sure to read the Material Safety Data Sheet that comes with Clear Casting Resin before using it. As with any polyurethane, observe the following safety precautions.

Mold Making, Casting Products and Kits: If an ArtMolds branded product purchased from artmolds.com proves to be defective in normal use within six months of its purchase or damaged during shipping, we will refund your purchase price or replace the item. Please note that most mold making and casting product such as polyurethanes, silicones and silicone paint medium have a six month shelf life. This warranty excludes damage to liquid latex products if frozen during transit (other than shipping overnight) or as a result of storage in freezing temperature environments.

Mechanical Products and Tools: If an ArtMolds-brand product purchased from artmolds.com proves to be defective in normal use within one year of purchase, or damaged during shipping, we will refund your purchase price or replace the item.

Other Products: For non ArtMolds-branded products, some products are covered by extended manufacturer’s warranties. Please contact either the manufacturer or our customer service for more information about these warranties.

Returns: If the product proves defective during the limited warranty period of six months, and you follow the return instructions provided by our customer service, then at your option, we will either provide you with a new replacement product or a refund. Products Purchased through Dealers: If you purchased any EnvironMolds item through an EnvironMolds dealer you must contact the dealer for replacement and or refund.

About

EnvironMolds specializes in mold making and casting materials that are environmentally safe. Many our of our materials will actually nourish the soil when discarded. You can always count on EnvironMolds for healthier, safer art supplies every time. www.artmolds.com the website and EnvironMolds is located in Summit, New Jersey, USA. The site is first and foremost about lifecasting, the art of taking molds directly from the human body and creating artistic casts. Ed McCormick, a lifecasting artist and lifecasting author in 1997, founded EnvironMolds. Since that time EnvironMolds and Life-casting.com has introduced hundreds of artists around the world to lifecasting.